In Halve the Gap by 2030, Measure of America revisits the epidemic of youth disconnection revealed by its influential One in Seven
report of last year, updating previous findings with the latest numbers by metro area, race and ethnicity, and gender. To better map the landscape of youth disconnection, this new study also presents the data by neighborhood cluster for each of the twenty-five most populous US metro areas, exposing extreme gaps within cities and between groups. It also offers a set of concrete recommendations to halve the gaps between the most- and least-connected neighborhoods and between racial groups by 2030 through collective action, a system of accountability, and the implementation of a mix of critical programs, including job training, youth engagement, and education initiatives. The initial response to Halve the Gap
includes a New York Times op-ed by Charles Blow and analysis by Richard Florida.

2013 Opportunity Index: How Opportunity Measures Up in Your Community

Developed by Measure of America and Opportunity Nation, the Opportunity Index
gives an annual snapshot of the economic, educational, and civic opportunities that are available to Americans at the state and county levels. This unique interactive tool goes beyond the limited measures of economic strength and security most commonly discussed—such as the Dow Jones Industrial Average, GDP, and unemployment—to provide communities with the comprehensive information they need to understand the progress they can make to boost economic and social mobility. Annual rankings for all the states and more than three thousand counties help policymakers identify areas for improvement and gauge progress over time. The latest issue of the Washington Monthly
features the recently released 2013 Index in a cover package of stories produced in partnership with MOA and Opportunity Nation: “Where Is Opportunity in America?” The Atlantic Cities has also reported on the 2013 Index.

In Council News

New from NYU Press and the SSRC, 22 Ideas to Fix the World offers analyses of potential solutions to contemporary crises through interviews with leading global thinkers, including former SSRC president Craig Calhoun. Read a review at Forbes.

Watch an interview with Mellon Mays Graduate Initiatives program director Cally Waite, profiled in the Mini Moments with Big Thinkers series from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Leon Sigal, director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project, briefed the press following a meeting in London of senior North Korean officials and US experts on Korean affairs, as reported by South Korean newspaper the Hankyoreh.